Precipitation Gutters On Textiles

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates generally to a garment. In one exemplary embodiment, the garment may comprise a plurality of sets of water channels. The plurality of sets of water channels may cover areas of the garment. The water channels in each set of water channels may cover areas of the garment and may be inter-connected and angled to facilitate water droplets to fall off the garment.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to garments. More specifically,the present invention relates to outdoor apparel with precipitationchannels.

BACKGROUND

When it rains or snows, people going outdoors may need a device orapparel to shield them from the precipitation, such as umbrellas or rainjackets. In some instances, umbrellas may be inconvenient. For example,when a persons hands may be occupied, such as when carrying something.Also, a user of an umbrella has to remind himself/herself not to forgetthe umbrella whenever entering and/or leaving a place. Furthermore, whenit is only drizzling, carrying an umbrella may be cumbersome. In someinstances, people may wear a rain jacket in the rain or snow, but therain jacket may impede ventilation around the body and traps heat andmoisture. Moreover, in some instances, people may be caught inunexpected rain or snow showers. Therefore, a comfortable outer layerapparel that may be worn for outdoor purposes, but can absorb or retainmuch less precipitation than a regular jacket or sweater may bedesirable.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparel that may divertwater away from the apparel. More specifically, an embodiment of thepresent invention may have connected systems or channels made ofhydrophobic material that divert water away from the apparel. Theseconnected systems or channels may function as precipitation gutters ontextiles. In the meantime, the hydrophobic material only covers limitedarea of the apparel thus, does not create a shield around the body totrap heat and moisture. Therefore, embodiments of the present inventionmay be well suited for outdoor activities under different weatherconditions (e.g., rain or shine).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The present invention generally relates to a garment with waterdiverting mechanism such that a user wearing the garment needs not worryabout getting soaking wet in rain or snow without a rain jacket orumbrella. The garment may be worn as an outermost layer. Embodiments ofthe present invention may be garments comprising precipitation gutters(e.g., water channels) on the outer surface. The channels may be appliedby laminating or otherwise burning out a continuous array of slickwater-repellent film on the face of the garments. The garments may bemade of comfortable, breathable fabric or textile (e.g., fleece, knits,woven). Each channel may be connected and angled such that waterdroplets may form and drop off the garments by gravity or a user'smovement rather than soaking into the fabric or textile.

In accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention, agarment is provided having water channels to cover certain area of thegarment. The water channels may be made of water repellant material(e.g., hydrophobic material). The water channels may be laminated,welded or glued to the garment. Other suitable method may also be usedto apply the water channels to the garment. In exemplary embodiments inaccordance with the present invention, the water channels may bereferred to as water guide, rain chain, water pathways, water piping,precipitation gutters, etc. The garment may be worn in rain, sleet,snow, mist or any outdoor environment with water precipitation orcondensation. The water channels may be applied to areas of the garmentsusceptible to precipitation and/or condensation (e.g., shoulder for anupper body apparel, front upper sides for a pair of pants, top for ahood).

In accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention, agarment may be provided as a jacket having arms (e.g., a fleece jacket,a high loft knits jacket or a pullover sweater). The garment may havewater channels on both arms extending along the shoulders of a user.When a user wears the garment in outdoor environment, any precipitationand/or condensation received by the shoulder area may be channeled awayby the water channels. In one exemplary embodiment, the garment may havea hood. The hood may also have water channels on the top outside. Thus,any precipitation and/or condensation received by the hood may bechanneled away from the hood.

In accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention, agarment may be provided as an apparel for lower body (e.g., a pair ofpants). The garment may have water channels on front upper sides of bothleg portions (e.g., an area covering the front side of a thigh). When auser wears the garment in outdoor environment, any precipitation and/orcondensation received by the area about the front side of a thigh may bechanneled away by the water channels.

The invention may be embodied in numerous other systems and throughnumerous other methods. The following detailed description, which, whentaken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses examples ofthe invention. Other embodiments, which incorporate some or all of thefeatures, are also possible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, which form a part of this disclosure:

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a front and rear view of a hooded jacket that maybe employed with certain embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B show a front and rear view of a jacket without a hoodthat may be employed in accordance with certain embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D show a variety of patterns of water channelsthat may be employed in accordance with certain embodiments of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 4 shows a front view of a pair of pants that may be employed inaccordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention generally relates to a garment with waterchannels. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention have waterchannels covering areas of the garment susceptible toprecipitation/condensation in wet conditions (e.g., rain or snow).

FIG. 1A shows a front view of a hooded jacket 100 that may be employedwith certain embodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1A,the hooded jacket 100 may have a zip front with a zipper 102. The hoodedjacket 100 may comprise a hood 108 and two long sleeves 104 a and 104 b.Around two shoulder areas 106 a and 106 b, the hooded jacket 100 mayhave two sets of water channels 112 a and 112 b. The hood 108 may alsohave a set of water channels 110. The hooded jacket 100 may be a fleecejacket made of polyester or wool. However, the material of the jacket isnot pertinent to the present invention and any comfortable andbreathable material suitable as an outermost layer of garment may beused (e.g., fleece, knits).

FIG. 1B shows a rear view of the hooded jacket 100 of FIG. 1A. As shownin FIG. 1B, the three sets of water channels, 110 for the hood 108, and112 a and 112 b for the shoulder area 106 a and 106 b, may have acertain pattern. The pattern may have a trunk and a plurality angledbranches connected to the trunk (See FIG. 3D). In FIG. 1B, this patternmay be designed that at all channels of a set of water channel (e.g.,110, 112 a, 112 b) may be inter-connected respectively and waterdroplets may be guided away to slip off from one of the branches or anend of the trunk. It should be noted that in one or more exemplaryembodiments in accordance with the present invention, the plurality ofwater channels may be connected at edges of their respectively coveredareas. For example, the three sets of water channels 110, 112 a and 112b may be connected by a few channels around a neck area adjacent to thehood 108. Alternatively, the set of water channels 110 may be connectedwith 112 a and/or 112 b around the shoulder areas 106 a and 106 brespectively.

In exemplary embodiments in accordance with the present invention, thewater channels may be made of a film of hydrophobic material (e.g.,material that tends to repel and not absorb water). In one exemplaryembodiment, a illustrator may be used to draw a desired pattern/designfor the water channels into a piece of film of hydrophobic material,such as an adhesive file manufactured by BEMIS® Worldwide. Then thepattern may be dye or laser cut. The patterned film may then be heatpressed or roll pressed onto the garment, for example, in FIGS. 1A and1B, the hooded garment 100. If the film is heat pressed, heat andpressure may be applied to melt adhesive (e.g., polyurethane glue)located on the film. Then, the film may be allowed to cool such that thefilm is secured to the jacket. In another embodiments, a desired patternmay be cut into the film after the film is positioned onto the garment.In still another exemplary embodiment, the film of hydrophobic materialmay be glued to the hooded garment 100 by only applying adhesive in theback of the film. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the film may bewelded to the garment. It should be noted that in a variety of otherembodiments in accordance with the present invention, any suitablemechanism may be used to apply the film to the hooded garment 100.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show a front and rear view of a jacket 200 without hoodin accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2A, thejacket 200 may have a zip front with a zipper 202. The jacket 200 maycomprise two long sleeves 204 a and 204 b. Around two shoulder areas 206a and 206 b, the jacket 200 may have two sets of water channels 212 aand 212 b. The jacket 200 may be a fleece jacket made of polyester orwool. Features of the jacket 200 and all its components may be similarto the hooded jacket 100 with regard to FIGS. 1A and 1B. Althoughjackets with a zip front have been shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A, it shouldbe noted that exemplary embodiments of the present inventions may beimplement in pullovers and other types of apparel for upper body of aperson.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D show a variety of patterns of water channelsthat may be employed in accordance with the present invention. As shownin FIG. 3A, an exemplary embodiment of pattern 302 for the waterchannels may be a mesh connected net. In pattern 302, water channels maybe inter-connected and angled that droplets of water may fall off bygravity or movement of a user. As shown in FIG. 3B, another exemplaryembodiment of pattern 304 for the water channels may be another meshconnected net. In pattern 304, water channels may be inter-connected andangled that droplets of water may fall off by gravity or movement of auser. The pattern 304 may have an irregular inter-connection orconnection-pattern. FIG. 3C shows another exemplary embodiment ofpattern 306 in accordance with the present invention. The pattern 306may have a regular inter-connection or connection-pattern. Waterchannels may be integrated as an inter-connected net as shown inpatterns 304 and 306. In FIG. 3D, yet another exemplary embodiment ofpattern 308 is shown. The pattern 308 may be similar to the patternshown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B. The pattern 308 may have a trunk 310and a plurality of branches connected to the trunk. The trunk 310 andbranches of the pattern 308 may be angled to facilitate water dropletsto drop off from a garment using the pattern 308.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of a pair of pants 400 in accordance with thepresent invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the pair of pants 400 maycomprise two leg portions 402 a and 402 b. The pair of pants 400 mayfurther comprise two sets of water channels 404 a and 404 b on the upperportion of the two leg portions 402 a and 402 b. In FIG. 4, two sets ofwater channels 404 a and 404 b may be shown to have patterns similar tothe pattern 308 shown in FIG. 3D. Exemplary embodiments in accordancewith the present invention may also be implemented in other types ofapparel for lower body of a person (e.g., shorts, or skirts).

The examples described herein are merely illustrative, as numerous otherembodiments may be implemented without departing from the spirit andscope of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Moreover,while certain features of the invention may be shown on only certainembodiments or configurations, these features may be exchanged, added,and removed from and between the various embodiments or configurationswhile remaining within the scope of the invention. Likewise, methodsdescribed and disclosed may also be performed in various sequences, withsome or all of the disclosed steps being performed in a different orderthan described while still remaining within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention.

1. A garment comprising: a plurality of sets of water channels coveringareas of the garment, wherein water channels in each set of waterchannels are inter-connected and angled to facilitate droplets ofprecipitation to form and fall off the garment.
 2. The garment of claim1, wherein the plurality of sets of water channels are made ofwater-repellent material.
 3. The garment of claim 2, wherein theplurality of sets of water channels are films of water-repellentmaterial.
 4. The garment of claim 3, wherein the films ofwater-repellent material are laminated to the garment.
 5. The garment ofclaim 3, wherein the films of water-repellent material are heat pressedto the garment.
 6. The garment of claim 3, wherein the films ofwater-repellent material are glued to the garment by adhesive.
 7. Thegarment of claim 1, wherein one or more sets of set of water channelsare connected.
 8. An jacket having arms comprising: a plurality of setsof water channels covering areas of the arms, wherein water channels ineach set of water channels are inter-connected and angled to facilitatedroplets of precipitation to form and fall off the apparel.
 9. Theapparel of claim 8, wherein the plurality of sets of water channels aremade of water-repellent materials.
 10. The apparel of claim 8, whereinone or more sets of set of water channels are connected.
 11. The apparelof claim 8, further comprising a hood.
 12. The apparel of claim 11,wherein the hood includes a set of water channels.
 13. The apparel ofclaim 8, further comprising a zipper at the front of the jacket.
 14. Theapparel of claim 8, wherein the plurality of sets of water channels aremade of water-repellent materials.
 15. The apparel of claim 14, whereinthe plurality of sets of water channels are films of water-repellentmaterial.
 16. The apparel of claim 15, wherein the films ofwater-repellent material are applied to the apparel by one of laminatedto the apparel, heat pressed to the apparel, roll pressed to the appareland glued to the apparel.
 17. A pair of pants comprising: a plurality ofsets of water channels covering areas of the pair of pants, whereinwater channels in each set of water channels are inter-connected andangled to facilitate droplets of precipitation to form and fall off thepair of pants.
 18. The pair of pants of claim 17, wherein the pluralityof sets of water channels are made of water-repellent materials.
 19. Thepair of pants of claim 17, wherein one or more sets of set of waterchannels are connected.
 20. The pair of pants of claim 17, wherein theplurality of sets of water channels are films of water-repellentmaterial applied to the pair of pants.